Customer Reviews
Another Great Little House Book 
2006-01-16
I didn't get into this book as quickly as the others, but it is still a great part of Laura Ingall's life!
ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK 
2005-12-20
IT IS VERY GOOD. I LIKED IT BECAUSE THEY SURVIVE OFF ALMOST NOTHING. THEY TRAP AND KILL THEIR MEAT.
Book Review 2005-12-19
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their house by Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Aunt Docia visits the family to offer Pa a job working for the Chicago and North Western Railroad who are laying tracks throughout South Dakota. Grasshoppers destroyed all their crops and hunting was scarce. Also the family had been stricken with scarlet fever, and also caused Laura's sister, Mary, to go blind. Mary does not complain about being blind and she is very brave. Many times Laura tells her details about their new life out in the wilderness and on the train rides. The Ingalls's bulldog Jack died of old age. He was a great companion to the family and is terribly missed.
While working for the railroad company, Pa finds a new homestead on the prairie and brings out the rest of his family. This is Laura's first time riding on a train. Also, the Ingalls's covered-wagon travels are finally over. Then Pa puts up the very first building in what will soon be a new town called De Smet.
One night, Laura and Carrie take a walk in their new town and come face to face with a pack of wolves. They are chase by them, but luckily Pa was there with his shotgun and shot the wolves, and saved their lives.
This book is definitely one of the most important books of this series, and I highly recommend it to everyone. It is very fun, exciting, and adventurous.
(...)
Good Story 2005-11-06
Out of all the Little house books this is probely the most fun. I love reading about when Laura learns to ride a horse. I also like this book because it is when we meet Grace.
The Ingalls Family Settles Down. 2005-09-29
Although LIW went on to writer several more titles in her Little House series, this book marks the family's arrival in DeSmet, South Dakota, where, despite Charles Ingall's occasional wishes to continue west to the Oregon country, Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Grace, and their bulldog, Jack (for sure one of the most faithful four-legged friends in all of literature) settle a government claim for 160 acres, and build a house in the growing frontier town. The Ingalls family had not fared well during its sojourn in Minnesota, having been hit by a plague of grasshoppers that destroyed the bumper crops Charles had been heavily counting on, and though Laura, by now in her early teens, cheerfully describes this relocation, one can read between the lines and feel the disappointment that was there. This is not the best book in the Little House series, but because it bridges the years between the trilogy that described Laura's childhood, and the books that came later to take Laura into marriage and adulthood, it is an important one. The rigors of farm life, amid the wild west, railroad men, and a frontier boomtown are well told. And then there is a goodbye to an old companion here. Anyone who is able to bid Jack a dry-eyed farewell has no heart. The goodbye to a dog as loyal, bright and brave in reality as any canine in fiction ever was, should bring tears to any child or woman reading this and probably has done-in more men through the years than would comfortably admit.
A story that settles into your heart from page one 2007-10-25
Laura Ingalls and her family have been living along the banks of Plum Creek for over five-years now. While the lovely town has a school that Laura and her sisters may attend, it lacks much else; and Pa has spent countless years trying to keep afloat, and stop himself, and his family, from succumbing to death. Which is why Pa believes that moving West to Dakota Territory, is the best way to keep a roof over his family's head. Laura, couldn't be happier. As opposed to the rest of her family, which is content in living like a caterpillar, wrapped up in a cocoon; Laura is more like a butterfly, spreading her wings, and wanting to explore the world around her. And when they pick up their belongings and head West, that's exactly what she finally gets to do.
Now almost thirteen-years-old, Laura is no longer given the privilege of simply frolicking around throughout the day. Instead, she must help Ma prepare food, and look after the little ones. But the little ones aren't the only people who need looking after. The family was recently struck with a bout of scarlet fever, and while everyone manage to pull through, Mary lost her sight from the sickness, and must be handled with kid gloves. Laura, however, doesn't mind. She will do anything she can to help Mary adjust, and, just as Pa told her, she is Mary's eyes. Moving West is difficult with so many strikes against the Ingalls family, but things look up when Pa is offered a job as a bookkeeper, timekeeper, and shopkeeper. The job pays fifty dollars a month, and offers a homestead for the Ingalls family to reside in. Pa believes the job is a true blessing, and instantly scoops it up - looking forward to begin work, and find a new place for his family to live. But as they head towards De Smet, the Ingalls family realizes that they aren't the only ones heading West. With the lure of as much free land as you'd like, many people have decided to pack up and head to the warm West. While neighbors are welcome, the Ingalls family must watch their back, for many people are trying to steal the claim's of others, and if they're not careful, they could end up one of the families cast out of the rich new environment.
While the previous LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE books displayed hardships for the Ingalls family, and the friends and neighbors around them, none can compare to the sadness that accompanies the Ingalls family within the pages of BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE, as they must contend with Mary's newly acquired blindness. That issue alone casts a somber shadow over the entire story, however, it does not make things any less interesting. Even with her handicap, Mary keeps a bright smile on her face, and shows that nothing can stop her from helping her family survive - from sewing to knitting, and everything in between. Mary smiles in the face of adversity, and truly becomes a favorite character in this addition. Laura, on the other hand, has truly matured since the previous book, ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK. While she is still as jovial and fun as always, she has more responsibilities at this time in her life, and steps up to the plate without complaint. The family, in general, is delightful to spend time with. The warm, coziness of their home, and the fact that there is always something scrumptious simmering away on the stove provide readers with a comfortable, familiar feeling; while, over time, the characters begin to feel like family members whom you can't help but root for. A story that settles into your heart from page one.
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
shores of silver lake 2007-07-19
Timeless book series. Every generation should have the original series, especially with Garth William's illustrations.
By The Shores of Silver Lake (Little House) 2007-07-13
I bought this book as a replacement for one that was missing from my collection.
God's Providence 2007-05-31
This is the fifth of nine books in the "Little House" historical fiction series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The book starts with the news, in the first chapter, that Laura's older sister Mary has gone blind. The information is related matter-of-factly, "Her blue eyes were still beautiful, but they did not know what was before them, and Mary herself could never look through them again to tell Laura what she was thinking without saying a word." (p. 2)
Laura has to become Mary's eyes and see for her, describing in detail what she is seeing so that Mary, too, can "see." The perceptive reader understands how central this experience, this role, was in shaping the future author of this series of books which are enduring across generations of readers, young and old.
Much later in the book, in the chapter, "On the Pilgrim Way," a much beloved, Reverend Alden is visiting, passing through with a very young (boy preacher) Reverend Stuart, and has just said to Ma, "I am sorry indeed, Sister Ingalls, to see the affliction that has come to Mary."
The reply comes, "Yes, Brother Alden," Ma answered sadly, "Sometimes it is hard to be resigned to God's will. We all had the scarlet fever in our place on Plum Creek, and for a while it was hard to get along. But I'm thankful that all the children were spared to us. Mary is a great comfort to me, Brother Alden. She has never once repined."
Brother Alden extends encouragement and comfort, "Mary is a rare soul, and a lesson to all of us...We must remember that whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and a brave spirit will turn all our afflictions to good. I don't know whether you and Brother Ingalls know that there are colleges for the blind. There is one in Iowa."
The account continues, "Ma took tight hold of the edge of the dishpan. Her face startled Laura. Her gentle voice sounded choked and hungry. She asked, 'How much does it cost?'"
In this book, perhaps more than the other books in the series, the author develops the subtleties of what the Ingalls family is all about, the close interrelationships of its members, their self-sacrificing devotion to one another. With the news that there are colleges for the blind, Laura determines to work hard so that the family can afford to send Mary to one, a theme that carries throughout other books in the series.
The author does a nice job of developing the central characters, especially Mary, whose blindness does not in any manner stop her from being a valuable, contributing member of the family. For example, it is Mary who warms and entertains baby Grace on her lap in the rocking chair by the fire, a repeated sweet scene.
Mary is mentally sharp and keeps the free-spirited, free-wheeling Laura on her toes, particularly when it comes to being truthful and describing accurately what she (Laura) is seeing. When Laura tells her the road in front of them has disappeared, Mary objects, saying that is impossible. Laura struggles to explain. In the chapter, "The Shanty on the Claim," Laura describes the shanty, which is papered with black tar paper fastened with yellow lath strips as "tiger-striped." Mary corrects her and points out that tigers are yellow with black stripes.
Laura gets her first glimpse of her future husband Almanzo Wilder, who along with his older brother Royal, passes the Ingalls family, the Wilder boys standing in a wagon, driving a beautiful, matched set of horses. Laura's attention is consumed completely by the beautiful horses, and she seems to scarcely notice the young men.
We cover this series, as well as the prequel series (The Martha Years, The Charlotte Years, The Caroline Years) and the sequel series (The Rose Years) in our home school curriculum with my grandchildren, who are currently 11, 8 and 6. My grandson enjoys the books at least as much as my granddaughters.
By The Shores Of Silver Lake 2006-12-15
This book is by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The story is about Laura, her older sister Mary, her two little sisters Carrie and Grace, and Ma and Pa, who are their mom and dad. They move from one place to the next. The setting is 19th century trail and shows a lot of trees, wagons, and people too.
One of the main events is when Mary, Carrie, Grace and Ma get Scarlet Fever and Mary went blind. Another is when Jack was their dog and he died of old age.
The author is telling about her life when she was a little girl. She is Laura. I think my favorite part of the book is when Laura and Lena were riding horses in Lena's backyard. The book starts when Mary goes blind. Some of it is sad, some of it is happy, and some of it is just right. I think everyone could like this book if they really wanted to.
- Emma,9
